Lesson 30 August 18, 2002

Review:

3:20 Superiority of God's promise

Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.

Literal Translation

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one party only, where as God is one party.

Summary 3:20

1. When a mediator is necessary it implies that the covenant or agreement between the parties indicates that both parties have responsibilities to fulfill related to that agreement.

2. On the other hand the Promise made to Abe which includes justification by faith, is unilateral, unconditional given to man directly without a mediator.

3. God alone than has the responsibility to fulfill all the aspects of the Promise!

4. This also brings out something else, the inferiority of the Law to that of the Promise.

3:21 Is there a conflict between Law and Promise?

1st the question

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?

The Answer!

May it never be!

The Logic! [contrary to fact - 2^cc]

For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. (and it never was)

Observations 3:21

1. The law is not antagonistic to the Promise of the Abrahamic covenant.

2. Since God is the source, the author of both therefore properly understood there is no conflict at all.

3. Unfortunately they (Promise & Law) have been interpreted as different systems of salvation.

4. Even the legalists see the need for righteousness but it cannot be obtained by man's doing, his own righteousness, that is law performance living, no matter how great the intentions are.

5. If law keeping could produce or impart life, then what purpose is the Cross?

6. Paul's big point here: The righteousness which God requires (His Holiness demands) could never be produced by man through any type of law performance system.

7. In giving the Law to Israel God never intended it to produce righteousness in the sense of justification, or to impart life in the sense of regeneration.

8. The Law, for the believers of the dispensation of Israel, provided them with guidelines for rule of life (divine viewpoint of life) for them as individuals as well as a people which when obeyed provided them with blessing. Deut. 8; 28

9. For the unbeliever the M/L pointed out very clearly their inability to fulfill the whole law and therefore before God they stood condemned and in need of salvation that only God could provide.